Give and understand simple directions in Arabic using imperatives and prepositions
F6Lesson 2 of 12◇ Core language
Giving Directions — How to Get There
إِعطاء الاِتِّجاهات — كَيفَ تَصِل إلى هُناك
My Town & Transport · Travel and the local area
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Learning Objectives
Focus on these outcomes rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Use اِذهَب/اِذهَبي، اِستَمِرّ، اِنعَطِف to give directions
Follow a set of spoken directions in Arabic and trace the route on a map
Lesson outline
- 8 minStarterDirection commands — TPR warm-up
- 12 minMain 1Direction vocabulary and imperative forms
- 20 minMain 2Direction role plays — Paper 3 transactional format
- 8 minMain 3Direction listening — trace the route
- 10 minPlenaryWrite directions from school to a local place
Exam connection: Listening: direction-giving, transport announcements, city descriptions (Paper 1 all formats) | Reading: Arabic signs/notices (Paper 2 Q2), transport timetable (Paper 2 Q1), descriptive article (Paper 2 Q3/Q6) | Writing: 80–100 words town and transport email/article (Paper 4 Q3) | Speaking: directions role play + ticket buying + shopping + topic conversation on town and transport
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Vocabulary
Tap each card to reveal the meaning, category and example.
Three-step recall
- Say the Arabic aloud.
- Cover the meaning and recall it.
- Use six items in your own spoken or written sentences.
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Quizzes
Use the two short checks. Errors show you what to revise next.
Quiz 1 — Meaning check
0 / 61. What does خَلف mean?
2. What does على بُعد كِيلومِتر mean?
3. What does بَين mean?
4. What does اِعبُر/اِعبُري الجِسر mean?
5. What does في النِّهاية الشَّارِع mean?
6. What does بِجانِب mean?
Quiz 2 — Match Arabic and English
العربية
English
Matched: 0 / 6
Stretch challenge
Choose three matched items and combine them into one accurate sentence or short exchange.
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Grammar
Read the rule, notice the pattern and then produce your own examples.
Core rule / strategy
Imperatives for directions: اذهَب (m. sing.) → اذهَبي (f. sing.) → اذهَبوا (pl.). استمِرّ (continue — doubled verb imperative). انعَطِف (turn — Form VII imperative: انفَعَل pattern). These are Form I and Form VII imperatives. Distance expressions: على بُعد + number + دقيقة/كيلومتر. Approximate: تقريباً (approximately). Question structures for asking directions: أين أقرب مستشفى? هل يمكنك أن تُرشدني إلى...?
Notice the pattern
- اِنعَطِف إلى اليمين عند الإشارة.
Accuracy checklist
- Check the subject and verb or noun/adjective agreement.
- Check gender, number and tense or time frame.
- Use the lesson structure in a complete, meaningful sentence.
- Read the sentence aloud and correct anything that sounds incomplete.
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Skills Practice
Practise listening, reading, speaking and writing with the same lesson language.
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Listening
Listen twice: first for the main idea, then for details.
اِنعَطِف إلى اليمين عند الإشارة.
- What is the main topic?
- Write three Arabic words you recognise.
- What one detail can you hear or infer?
Teacher/partner guidance and possible answer
Read the Arabic text naturally twice. A successful answer identifies the lesson topic, any three accurate key words and one relevant detail from the text.
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Reading
Underline known words before answering.
اِنعَطِف إلى اليمين عند الإشارة.
- What is the main topic of the text?
- Find two words or phrases connected with “Giving Directions — How to Get There”.
- What specific detail can you identify?
- Which grammar structure from this lesson appears, or could be added?
Reading support
Start with names, numbers, repeated words, connectors and familiar verb patterns. You do not need to translate every word.
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Speaking
Build your answer, then ask a follow-up question.
- Explain the topic “Giving Directions — How to Get There” in your own words.
- Use at least five items from the vocabulary section.
- Give an opinion or personal example and justify it.
- Ask and answer two follow-up questions with a partner.
Useful frame:في رَأيي... لِأَنَّ... أَيضاً... وَمِن جِهَةٍ أُخرى...
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Writing
Plan, write, check and improve.
Task: Write about Giving Directions — How to Get There. Use at least eight vocabulary items, the lesson grammar and two connectors. Target: 40–60 words.
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Activities
Complete the activities in order, or choose the one that addresses your weakest area.
Starter8 min
Direction commands — TPR warm-up
You stand up. teacher or partner gives direction commands in Arabic — You physically respond: "اذهبوا إلى الأمام! توقَّفوا! انعطفوا يميناً! انعطفوا يساراً! استمِرُّوا على طول!" 2 minutes of energetic TPR. Then: teacher or partner says a direction sequence (4 commands) — You draw the route on a mini-whiteboard. This kinaesthetic and visual entry immediately establishes the meaning of direction vocabulary before any writing. You arrive at Lesson 2 highly engaged.
Main 112 min
Direction vocabulary and imperative forms
Present the key direction imperatives systematically. Write the pattern: اذهَب (m.) → اذهَبي (f.) → اذهَبوا (pl.). Practise all 5 imperatives with all three forms. Then: distance and landmark expressions. "عِند الإشارة، انعطِف يميناً. على بُعد خمس دقائق، ستجد المحطة على يمينك." Write 5 complete direction sentences using different landmarks and imperative forms. Check: gender of the imperative must match the person being addressed (a common error).
Main 220 min
Direction role plays — Paper 3 transactional format
5 prompts (Paper 3 format): 1) Ask where the nearest station is. 2) Ask how to get there from here. 3) Ask approximately how far it is. 4) Ask if there is a bus that goes there. 5) Thank the person and repeat the key direction back to check. Pairs work through all 5 prompts with the town map. Student A asks (using أين أقرب...؟ / هل يمكنك أن تُرشدني؟), Student B gives directions. Then swap. teacher or partner listens to 4 pairs — are the imperative forms correct? Are the prepositions accurate (على اليمين vs إلى اليمين — both used, slight difference in register)?
Main 38 min
Direction listening — trace the route
Listen as the text is read a set of 6 directions (slowly and clearly, twice). You trace the route on their town map in pencil. Then: Listen as the text is read once more — You check. Finally: where did you end up? "وصَلت إلى المتحف" — using وصَل (arrived) as a past set phrase alongside the present tense direction giving. This combines receptive listening with map-reading in a genuinely communicative task.
Plenary10 min
Write directions from school to a local place
Write 6 direction sentences from their school to a place nearby (real or invented town map). Must use: at least 3 different direction imperatives, 2 different landmarks, one distance expression (على بُعد...), one preposition (بجانب/أمام/مقابل). Exchange with partner — partner reads and draws the route. Did the directions work? You add direction vocabulary to vocabulary books.
Useful resources
- Direction flashcards (imperative + arrow)
- Town map for directions activity (with labelled places)
- Direction-giving role play cards (A asks, B gives directions)
- Direction comprehension listening activity (teacher reads directions, students trace route)
Stretch / heritage-reader challenge
Heritage readers: write two sets of directions in Arabic: (1) from their school to their home (real), and (2) from a major landmark in an Arab city they know to another landmark in the same city (e.g. from the Cairo Tower to the Egyptian Museum). Use formal MSA register and all direction structures.
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Plenary
Finish with a quick check and one clear next step.
Key takeaways
- Give and understand simple directions in Arabic using imperatives and prepositions
- Use اِذهَب/اِذهَبي، اِستَمِرّ، اِنعَطِف to give directions
- Follow a set of spoken directions in Arabic and trace the route on a map
- Grammar focus: Imperatives for directions: اذهَب (m. sing.) → اذهَبي (f. sing.) → اذهَبوا (pl.). استمِرّ (continue — doubled verb imperative). انعَطِف (turn — Form VII imperative: انفَعَل pattern). These are Form I and Form VII imperatives. Distance expressions: على بُعد + number + دقيقة/كيلومتر. Approximate: تقريباً (approximately). Question structures for asking directions: أين أقرب مستشفى? هل يمكنك أن تُرشدني إلى...?
Exit ticket
Direction sentences (collected — imperative gender accuracy). Role play (teacher or partner observation — prompt coverage). Direction listening route tracing.
Optional follow-up
Write directions from your home to your school (or from school to a nearby important place) in Arabic — at least 8 sentences. Use at least 5 different direction imperatives, 3 landmarks, and 2 distance expressions.
Confidence check
How secure do you feel after this lesson?
Remember: quick revision works best when you revisit weak vocabulary and correct errors, not when you try to complete everything in one sitting.